Atascadero non-licensed home remodeling sting nets 12

July 19, 2014

Twelve local home remodelers were among 94 statewide who face charges of contracting without a license after they were snared in a statewide undercover sting conducted this week, according to the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB).

CSLB investigators posed as homeowners seeking bids from people advertising on Craigslist for home improvements such as painting, electrical, decking, landscaping, flooring, drywall, fencing, concrete, and tree removal work. The investigators would then have the remodeler give a bid before citing those who broke the law.

Statewide, 82 people were cited for illegal advertising, state law requires contractors to place their license number in all print, broadcast, and online advertisements. Those without a license can advertise to perform jobs valued at less than $500, but the ad must state that they are not a licensed contractor.

Another 10 were cited for requesting an excessive down payment. In California, a home improvement project down payment cannot exceed 10 percent of the contract total or $1,000, whichever is less. This misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or up to a $5,000 fine.

Those arrested at a home in Atascadero include a suspect who had an arrest warrant from Imperial County, two repeat offenders; one was issued a notice to appear in 2009, the other in 2010, a previously licensed contractor who was warned in 2012 not to contract without a license, and a suspect who offered to build a deck for free – with materials he’d find on craigslist for free – if he’d be allowed to live in a camper that was on the property. The names of those cited were not released.

In Atascadero, CSLB investigators partnered with the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol and the Atascadero Police Department.

Watch a video of the Contractors State License Board stings in Rocklin and Corona on July 15-16:

67 Comments

Well before this thread dies, here is one last. From recent CSLB sting.

Rocklin (Placer County)
· Three registered sex offenders were arrested.
· Two suspects were on probation, one for arson and making terrorist threats.
· Known “Sweetheart Swindler” Samantha Pham was arrested for multiple violations.

But again hey go ahead and hire someone you don’t know.

Oh and one last to why lic? Yea what they heck, we shouldn’t bother licencing Doctors or Lawyers either. Heck the USDA?? Nah you don’t need to have your food protected we haven’t seen any cases of E-coli, have we? Lets get rid of drivers lic. people can figure out how to drive without them. Heck why we are at it why do we even need degrees from colleges? I mean none of this stuff above anyone needs this, it doesn’t prove they know anything does it???

I get the fact that a homeowner is taking a big risk hiring a non-licensed contractor to perform say, an addition, or other project which could effect the structural soundness of the home, but come on Sacramento, the limit is only $500.

Its been $500 for over 30 years. You can’t even buy new lumber to replace a small fence for that amount of money these days, let alone include some labor for the guy trying to eek out a living for his family.

Its time to re-evaluate the $500 limit and come up with a number that reflects today’s reality… one thousand dollars comes to mind, but I don’t know if that’s even enough though.

Here’s the deal: Everyone should know everything about everything. If they do not it is
their own damned fault.
Business-owners should be able to do whatever they can get away with.
After all, this is a free-standing, free-wheeling capitalist country.
There should be no law restricting anyone from doing anything and no person deserves
protection from being ignorant
nosiree bobby.